Local economic development officials are courting a food-related business to come to the Oneida County Business Park in Oriskany.

The unnamed business is involved in a multi-state search and the Oriskany location, near the northeast corner of Judd and Airport roads – is one of two sites in the state under consideration.

“We are hopeful that they will narrow it down and pick this site,” Mohawk Valley EDGE President Steve DiMeo said.

The company is set to invest as much as $40 million in whatever property it chooses and employ about 120 people there. DiMeo would not name the company and when asked for other details would say only that it is involved with “food processing.”

DiMeo said the company is on an “aggressive schedule.”

The county Board of Legislators voted Wednesday to approve the conveyance of about 80 acres of land to EDGE to pave the way for the potential sale. The unnamed company woud likely only use about 20 acres of the land, however.

Under the deal, EDGE would sell the land for a minimum price of $10,000 an acre. Upon the sale, EDGE would give the county about $5,000 per acre for the land and use the remainder for site improvement projects.

“We are just trying to stay in front of the process here,” DiMeo said.

It’s unclear whether the contract between EDGE and the county will go forward if the company doesn’t purchase the land, he said.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said the land conveyance is often used in economic development.

“It’s property we are not going to use for a government use,” he said. “It should be used for economic development and in the hands of economic developers. We are not giving it away, we are sharing the proceeds.”

All 27 legislators at the Board of Legislators’ meeting Wednesday voted in favor of the measure. Two of the 29 legislators absent.